Just who cares about the title, bruhh!
Since Freya was still resting and Bne didn't know anyone in this place, he looked outside his window in order to explore the surroundings.
-Blood Vision-
Whispering an incantation, Ben cast a spell that altered his perception. As he gazed out of the window, his surroundings were enveloped in a deep shade of red. The once blue sky now bore a crimson hue, while infernal energy seemed to emanate from every living being in the village, painting them in fiery shades. In stark contrast, nonliving objects remained black, devoid of the same vibrant energy.
While Ben's attention was drawn to the transformed village, a distinct blood aura snagged his senses. It emanated from the northwest, but its source was still concealed from his view. Nonetheless, the aura's potency allowed him to gauge the strength of the entity it belonged to.
"The same strength as that devil, if not even greater," Ben muttered before shutting his eyes, allowing the red light in his pupils to fade back to their usual hue.
The more I perceive, Ben, the more convinced I am that there is something amiss in this village. [Staying here for long doesn't sound like a good idea.]
"I share the same sentiment. I will try to leave the village as soon as we are healed," Ben replied in an unusually serious tone. His voice held a gravity that contrasted with his usual demeanor.
After a thorough examination, Ben decided to visit the village and ensured he remained within a 500-meter radius of the sleeping girl. This proximity was essential for the slave contract. Thanks to the assistance of the system, Ben could measure the real-time distance accurately.
As the day progressed, Ben and Ray explored the village, familiarizing themselves with its layout. Yet, nothing appeared out of the ordinary, except for one particular church that captured his attention—the same location from which the substantial blood aura had emanated.
After speaking with Ray, Ben learned that the building had a deep history. It was an ancient edifice used for judgment and executions during the church's reign over the continent. However, with the ascent of the King of Valoria, these structures were dismantled, and the church members were killed.
After a decade dominated by the Cold War, the structure had devolved into a mere tourist attraction. The once-prominent religion had devolved into a cult, branded as a terrorist organization by the King's Council.
The village layout was very simple yet unique; the south of the village was directly exposed to the enchanted forest. Bounded by a silver wall, the people of the village wouldn't get near unless necessary. That part of the land was mostly used for farming purposes or as a field for cattle.
The east of the village was connected to the ruined city; back in the time, it used to be a prosporus trade route, but now the land has gone completely barren, not even used for farming. Still, villagers were able to utilize this soil for making gray bricks and other constructions.
North of the village, as far as it exceeded, was the farming land. This is where the village gets most of its food from. This was also the only open route that connected the village to the city.
Last and most important was the west of the village; this was the place where mana veins were most concentrated. Numerous small animals were born in this place, which people used for hunting.
Further west, a humangous river divided the Valoria empire from the demihuman kingdom. Despite both kingdoms had good relations, there was no connecting bridge between them. The reason for that was the increadibly fast river water and the hundreeds of intermediate-tier beasts that reside in that water.
Legend spoke of three king tier beasts who resided in the water in order to protect the amphibian creatures. Among these legends, the tale of a majestic blue-winged serpent that dwelled in the river held particular intrigue.
While the western border remained open and unrestricted, the same did not hold for the eastern and northern sides. During harvest season, when villagers ventured into the fields, they often encountered attacks from a species known as midnight wolves.
Initially sporadic and attributed to unfortunate circumstances, these attacks have recently become more calculated and frequent since the village appointed its new chief. Consequently, about three out of every ten villagers bore visible signs of bites or scratches—evidence of the heightened peril.
What troubled Ben was the paradox of the wolf's attacks. The village was encompassed by an imposing 10-meter-tall wall on the southern and eastern fronts—a vestige of its past as a city. The presence of this wall raised questions: How could wolves breach these defenses? How could they strike the villagers?
If not for the 500-meter limit, Ben would have excitedly explored the ruins of the old city and the vast river. However, these limits hampered his exploration. The only way to leave these limitations was to awaken the sleeping beauty in front of him, who had been snoring peacefully for almost a whole day.
"Hey, system? Weren't you the one who said she'd wake up after about 8 hours? Why is she still in this deep slumber?" Ben inquired, a slight smile of frustration touching his lips.
[At this point, Ben, I doubt she's just unconscious.]
[It seems more likely that she is simply sleeping.]
"I see," Ben mumbled, a mixture of understanding and apprehension filling his expression. He moved closer to the silver-haired girl, allowing a tentative smile to play on his lips. In a swift motion, he leaned closer to her, his breath tickling her ear as he took a deep inhalation.
"WAKE UP TO REALITY!!" he yelled, his voice reverberating through the air, loud enough to terrify birds from the treetops.
The silver-haired girl awoke abruptly, her limbs and legs thrashing in disarray. Disoriented, she looked around, trying to make sense of her circumstances. Ben took a step back, giving her space to restore her composure. As her first terror dissipated, her attention turned to Ben's concerned expression.
"Welcome to the land of living, Dattebayo!" Ben said it with a wide grin.
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